The final ‘coming out’ of the communist left in America

In the book, “1984,” George Orwell wrote that “the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” Even more compelling, Orwell said of the future:

“Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.”

It is hard to dispute that the progressive left has a stranglehold on pop culture in America. Firmly entrenched in media, academia and the entertainment industry, and more emboldened than ever, it controls the present.

Our history has long been under assault, particularly in universities, but never as aggressively as we see in a 10-part Showtime documentary produced by Oliver Stone, “Untold History of the United States.”

Commenting on Stone’s latest work in a FrontPage column, David Horowitz calls it “a ludicrous encapsulation of the Kremlin’s view of the Cold War, amplified by the Castro, Ho Chi Minh, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, Hamas version of the post-Communist decades.”

And he is qualified to make such a judgment. A self-proclaimed “red-diaper baby,” Horowitz was one of the founders of the “New Left” in the 1960s and an editor of its largest magazine, Ramparts. In his memoir, “Radical Son,” Horowitz traces his odyssey from an angry far-left activist to conservative writer and policy advocate. He is now president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center and editor of FrontPage Magazine.

Stone’s rewriting of history is being widely embraced by far-left zealots who have nothing but contempt for this country and by the progressive culture in general.

Such rewriting is not just relegated to Hollywood. A professor at Montclair State, a public university in New Jersey, can be seen in a YouTube video denying that Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin was responsible for the murder of millions, saying he has “yet to find one crime – one crime that Stalin committed.”

More importantly, and this matters because it’s coming from someone who grew up in that culture — the very same culture that Barack Obama cut his teeth on — Horowitz suggests “Untold History” is the coming out of the communist left.

“I consider the reception of this latest Stone travesty to be a significant cultural event signifying a final coming out of the closet of what can only be termed the Communist left,” Horowitz wrote.

And only Horowitz can say such a thing.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West is an example of what happens should a conservative dare broach the subject. In his case, the media and members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus set upon West with vigor when he implied there were communist influences in Congress. Taking a page out of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals,” progressives ridiculed him until his message fell silent.

Yet, how do we best define Barack Obama’s economic policies? Wealth redistribution, class warfare? Is this not classic Marxism? Pitting the working class, the proletariat, against those who own the means of production, the bourgeoisie?

Not to say that the president is a Marxist or even a communist, but it’s foolhardy to ignore these influences as a big part of his political makeup.

A review in New York Times Magazine gives you an idea of what to expect with “Untold History.” Reporter Andrew Goldman explains that from Stone’s point of view, “World War II begot the cold war, which landed us in Vietnam, a manifestation of American imperialism, which led inexorably to our current battle in Afghanistan.”

“Come on, that’s such a canard, you know that,” Stone told New York Times Magazine. “‘The Greatest Generation?’ That was the biggest publishing hoax of all. It’s to sell books.”

According to Stone, we have been sold a fairytale masquerading as history, and he is more than happy to redefine that history for our benefit.

“I was in Vietnam with the Greatest Generation,” Stone said. “They were master sergeants, generals, colonels. They had arrogance beyond belief. The hubris that allowed Henry Kissinger to say North Vietnam is a fourth-rate power we will break. The hubris of that!”

Having defeated the great Nazi Germany war machine and overcome the relentless brutality of the Japanese Army, I submit our World War II veterans had good reason for feeling as if they’d accomplished something. But that suggests American exceptionalism, and we already know how the progressive left feels about that, as quoted in the Los Angeles Times:

“I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” ~ Barack Obama

As for Stone’s disrespect of those who sacrificed so much for future generations, it is times such as this that I wish time machines did exist and that we could transport this ingrate to that Normandy beachhead called Omaha at just about 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944.

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Comments

Excellent analysis of our current dilemma here in the USA. Our history is revised to suit the purposes of the liberal left and their communistic agenda.

But I'm heartened to remember that in the "civil" war fought on American territory by the British colonists' militias against the British Regulars of the King's Army, there was only approximately 30% of the general populace who held to the ideology of their freedoms by way of the following 'self-evidences" of their freedom:

(1) Before William in 1066 the people met in counsel with the king and participated in their own government

And the final issue of their day: our Declaration of Independence (from George III)

History does repeat itself with those who are, in their own mischief, of a "malignant and pernicious design of subverting the fundamental laws and principles of government, upon the religion and justice … are firmly established." So we-the-people must revisit the truth about our history and proclaim it with aplomb while there is time for recovery here in America.

http://cns-alumni.bu.edu/~slehar Steven Lehar

Looking back, where we went fatally wrong was to give our children's schooling over to the government. They didn't even have to organize a "vast left-wing conspiracy", just introduce kids with their first exposure to reality, a taste of government propaganda in government controlled schools. The whole "separation of church and state" would be a total non-issue if we-all could choose our own schools for our own children, with or without government vouchers. Give US the freedom to choose!

Maybe next time, America II, will we ever learn?

RUSerious

The real reason progressives are so popular is because they have no real opposition with any credible policies or politicians. The Republican platform was soundly rejected by the majority of Americans as totally unacceptable policies, same goes for the politicians who espoused those hateful policies. You lost! Get over it! Try being Patriotic and putting Country first and get past the obviously delusional paranoia. In order to gain a majority in Congress, you have to win votes from the majority of the electorate. The Republican manifesto appeals only to a minority of Americans, which is why the Republican party is vanishing up its own backside. Until fear-mongering, and hateful propaganda are dropped from the GOP election strategy and gerrymandering, voter suppression and other cheating tactics are no longer part of the GOP's game plans, the Dems will always win.

Dinpa

Spoken like a true troll, a really useful idiot, RUSeriuos. One who deserves to be the first to serve his slave master in utopian hell.

RUSerious

KB If you lived in truly lived in a tyrannical state, fascist, communist or otherwise, you'd never be allowed to express your distorted views of history.

http://Bizpac Ted

Oliver Stones time in Vietnam was about three months in Chu Chi, which was a large operating location not far from Saigon. He never, as far as he has said ever been out in the field. He is like lots of vets who say "I was there", but they were only there out of the dangerous areas. Some never fired a shot. Beside the point, anyway. Stone's histories are just his opinion. Those are like some orifaces that everyone has. No more. If one published opinionated history can influence people so much, then, we ought to be able to report these people to the stupid police. There seems to be a lot of "The commies are coming, the commies are coming" crying out. If tyranny was here, you wouldn't be able to talk about it here. The GOP lost. They have to get more votes next time, or jury-rige more of the districts to lessen the Dems voters. It worked for the House this year. 2014? We shall see. All the GOP can do is get more palitable candidates or go further and further into the fringe. Allen West lost because he couldn't take his size 11 foot out of his mouth. He has been picked up by Fox, so he can continue to entertain. One thing that is interesting is that the fustration level must be just below the surface with some of our posters. They call out names and fade out. That really is a help, isn't it. It adds no perspective, and almost worthless opinion, like most name calling. If you have something to say, say it. If not, save it for when you do. Unless, its like going to the bathroom for you, where you can't hold it. Sounds like it.

nicholas frasca

Hey Ted,

I did what Allen West recommended. I read the Democrat Party platform. I read the Democrat Progressive Caucus platform. I read the Democrat Black Caucus platform.

Then I read the American Socialist Party platform. And the Communist Party of the United States platform.

You might be surprised at the similarity of many of the goals, policies desired…even words and phrases.

Ted Lawson

You must be a doofus. The problem is that we DO live in a Communist country, with the Chief Thug Obama at the head of this illegal junta. Wait until he takes your guns, then your car, then your house. Remember that we warned you in 2008, but America stupidly gave this joker eight years to do his damage. We will all regret this history. Regret it with a capital "R."